Nearly a week later, McLaughlin has asked for a public apology from Wooster.

“He should absolutely rescind what he said,” McLaughlin said. “He should explain why he said it. Those kinds of comments should not be allowed.”

McLaughlin said she’d have a hard time remaining on the commission with a fellow commissioner who “feels it’s okay to make prejudicial comments.”

County resident Michael Magana, whose father immigrated to the United States from Mexico, went so far as to start a Change.org petition calling for Wooster’s removal by the board of supervisors.

“I thought they were bigoted remarks. I found it very offensive, and I think many other people found it offensive,” Magana said. “There really is no place for that in this community, especially as the planning commissioner stating that during a public meeting.”

However, not everyone in this rural county of less than 45,000 people found Wooster’s comment offensive.

“It’s just blown out of proportion. I mean everyone has their personal opinion,” resident Scott Brewer said. “But, it being 2016, everything is racist to everybody -- so, my personal opinion, not racist.”

Wooster said the only comment he planned to make is all on the tape, and that he wouldn’t be commenting any further.

Planning commission positions are appointed. District Four Supervisor Debbie Ponte appointed Wooster. She did not respond to KCRA’s request for an interview.

The next planning commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Calaveras County Government Center.